If you haven't got enough drawn comb the key is making sure there is always a good percentage of open brood.

Matthew Davey

01-02-2013, 08:26 AM

Ian

Re: I don't want to get any bigger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whix

How do you manage to NOT expand your colony numbers every year?
I just want to stick with the 50ish colonies that I am keeping now.

Usually, beekeepers struggle to keep numbers up, and employee methods of nucs to help maintain a consistent operating number. They will then sell off surplus hives according to the year

That could also be an option for you. When you assess you hives in the spring, take the surplus strength and make up nucs with it. Winter them and sell off accordingly. There is a strong market for nucs, and it will provide another stream of income for you. But most importantly, it buys you insurance for heavy loss events.

01-02-2013, 09:26 AM

Saltybee

Re: I don't want to get any bigger.

Really? Help me, I have too much money.
Nuc-ing you must go.

01-02-2013, 09:46 AM

rkereid

Re: I don't want to get any bigger.

More stringent quality control. Eliminate the least productive queens and combine the bees.

01-02-2013, 01:41 PM

Michael Bush

Re: I don't want to get any bigger.

You can do combines of the small ones every fall. You can do combines just before the flow to maximize production. You can sell colonies. You can sell nucs. Having too many bees is a very good problem to have and easy to resolve.